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Writing Test
7
ARCO
■ SAT II Subject Tests
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B. When the sentence structure is inverted. An inverted sentence is one in which the verb comes
before the subject.
EXAMPLES:
Although this is the wealthiest country in the world, within a few blocks of the White House
there is scores of homeless people who live on the streets.
The subject of the verb is is not there but scores, which is plural. The correct construction is: “there
are scores.” The sentence should read: “Although this is the wealthiest country in the world, within a few
blocks of the White House there are scores of homeless people who live on the streets.”
Just a few miles from the factories and skyscrapers stand a medieval castle that looks exactly as
it did in the 12th century.
The subject of the verb stand is castle. The correct construction is: “stands a medieval castle.” The
sentence should read: “Just a few miles from the factories and skyscrapers stands a medieval castle that
looks exactly as it did in the 12th century.”
C. When the subject is tricky.
EXAMPLES:
Either the governor or one of his close aides prefer not to have the senator at the head table.
When a subject consists of two or more parts jointed by or, the verb must agree with the element that
follows the or. So for the purpose of agreement, the subject of the sentence is one. The correct construc-
tion is: “one . . . prefers.” The sentence should read: “Either the governor or one of his close aides prefers
not to have the senator at the head table.”
Because they were surrounded by layers of excelsior, none of the crystal goblets were broken
when the workers dropped the crate.
The subject of the verb were broken is none, and none is singular. The correct construction is: “none
. . . was broken.” The corrected sentence is: “Because they were surrounded by layers of excelsior, none
of the crystal goblets was broken when the workers dropped the crate.”
John, his wife, and the rest of his family plans to attend the awards dinner to be given by the
company for the employees with the most seniority.
A subject consisting of two or more elements joined by and is plural. The correct construction is:
“John, his wife, and the rest of his family plan to attend the awards dinner to be given by the company for
the employees with the most seniority.”